Ring-furnace



V. C. DOERSCHUK.

RING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1919.

1,330, 175. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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V. C. DOERSCH UK.

RING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. I919.

Patented Feb. 10,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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. -14 w 1 YIIII/flII/IIIIIIIIIIIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR C. DOERSCHUK, OF MASSENA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RING-FURNACE.

Application filed May 1, 1919. Serial No. 294,120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR C. DOERSCHUK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Massena, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ring- Furnaces, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to so-called ring furnaces, for heating or baking articles of various kinds, as for example carbon electrodes for arc-lighting, for electric furnaces, for electrolytic processes, etc. In furnaces of this type as usually constructed. at the present time, two parallel rows of heating chambers are constructed, preferably under ground and with the tops of the chambers flush with or extending slightly above the surface of the ground. Then the furnace is in operation all the chambers are' in use in such manner that one or more chambers containing articles already heated or baked (and still hot) are being cooled by air drawn in from the outside This air, preheated by absorption of heat from the previously fired chambers, is delivered tothe next chamber and there supports combustion of the producer gas or'other fuel with which the furnace is fired. From the furnaceunder fire the products of combustion pass through the next section or sections,- and, in doing so, therein, thereby pre -heating such articles. When the articles in the chamber or section under fire are sufficiently heated or baked the supply of fuel is diverted therefrom to the next chamber, that is, the first of the chambers in which articles are being pre-heated. At cles from the first of the previously fired chambers are being-removed, and fresh unheated or unbaked articles are being placed in the first empty" chamber beyond those containing articles, which are being preheated. In this way the fire proceeds down one row 01' series of chambers, then crosses over to the adjoining row, passes up the latter row to the end, and then over to the first row again, and so on. 1 Hence the namering furnace.

The present invention relates to furnaces of this general type, and its object is to pro: vide an improved furnace of high efficiency. To this and other ends the invention consists in the novel features of construction Specification of Letters Patent.

give up heat to the articles the same time cooled arti- Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

and combinations of elements hereinafter descrlbed. Referring now to the drarwlngs, in which a furnace embodying the present invention Fig. 4 is a: diagrammatic longitudinal section illustrating the course of air and gases through the fines of the furnace.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a burner port and an associated air-port, to' illustrate the method of regulating the size of the ports.

Fig. 6 is a similar view but showing both ports closed.

Referring now to Fig. 4, X indicates a chamber which has been opened to permit the removal of heat-treated and thoroughly cooled articles, for instance carbon electrodes, hereinafter referred to simply. as carbons. One or more succeeding cham-- bers, for example three, indicated by a, b, c,

contain carbons that have been baked. Ontside air enters the gas passage 14 (the covers 15 being removed) and passing into the channeled or hollow walls and partitions of chamber X flows through the similar Walls, partitions and bottoms of chambers w, b, 0, absorbing heat from these chambers and their contents and being thereby preheated,

as will be readily understood. At Y gaseous fuel is introduced and is burned at the burner-ports y, the combustion being supported by the preheated air, (t, b, c, issuing from air-ports y. The intensely ho t products of combustion pass downwardly through the channels in the hollow walls and partitions and through the channeled bottom of chamber d, and in like manner through the walls, partitions and bottoms of one or more succeeding chambers, for example three, indicated by e, f, g, passing finally to the waste-gas flue at Z. The carbonsin (Z are thus baked, and the products of combustion give up heat to the unbaked carbons previously placed in chambers c, f, 9. These unbaked carbons are thus preheated. "When the carbons in d are suffrom chambers fi'ciently baked the supply'of fuel gas is out off at Y and switched to Y, and is ignited at the burner-ports of chamber 6. At the same time the gas inlet at Y is closed, so that the air from chamber. 0 passes through the channels of chamber cl, thereby being further heated, and unites with the gas burning in the walls and partitions of chamber e. In the meantime chamber X has been emptied and is ready for refilling; chamber .a has been cooled sufiiciently to permit the blocked by suitable closures as described hereinafter, so thatthe suction of the exhaust fan (not shown) connected. to the -illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are all exactlyv group 1 .and c waste-gas flue was exerted only on the chambers in the rear/of chamber k. In like manner chamber f is next fired, the firing taking a progressive course up the first row of chambers, then across to and down the second, then across to and up the first again, and so on continuously.

- In the procedure specifically "outlined above (merely to illustrate and explain the.

general operation of the furnace), eight chambers, for instance chambers X, a, b, 0, d, e, f, g, constitute what for convenience may be termed a group. Of these the first (-X) is beingunloaded and, later, reloaded. The next three (a, b, 0,) contain baked carbons which are being cooled by air admitted through chamber X. The next (d) is being' fired, and the next'three (e, f, g,)-are being preheated by products of combustion from d. If, as is usually the case, there are in the entire fuirnace more chambers than enough for a single group, one or more other groups are in operation at the same time. Hence it 1s customary to-make the total number of chambers an even multiple of the number in a single group. "Thus with forty chambers, five groups of eight each can .be operated simultaneously. It will also be observed that as the operations proceed, themakeup, so to speak, of each groupchanges. For

instance, reverting to the illustrative exam-- ple outlined above, when chamber 6 is being fired its group (which we may term group 2) comprises chambers a, b, 0, d, e, f, g, h, chamber X having become the last chamber of the preceding l group (which we may term amber i having become the first of group 3. I

The chambers comprising the furnace alike save for certain modifications in the as will be explained hereinafter. Each chamber is divided by longitudinal intermediate walls or partitions 10 into a plurality of cells or compartments, four in the present embodiment of the invention. These partitions, the side walls 11, the end walls 12, and the bottoms or floors 13, are all hollow, providing passages,-channels, or flues for the air, the gaseous fuel, and the products of combustion. Across the top of each end wall is a horizontal gas passage 14 having burner-ports y opening into the upper portions of the hollow partitions and side walls. The top of each gas passage is provided with openings 15, one at each par- -end chambers, entailed by their positions,

tition and side wall for access'to the ports immediately below to permit convenient adjustment of the blocks 16, 17, Fig. 3, and to close the ports when necessary or desirable. These openings can be closed by removable covers 15*. When a chamber is be ing fired its gas passage 14: is connected to the gas main 18, extending longitudinally of the furnace between the two rows of chambers. This connection is made by means of a removable siphon-shaped connector orelephant 19, extending from an adjacent opening 20 in the main to one of the openings 15 in the gas passage 14. Gas is thus supplied to the latter passagc and delivered to the burner-ports. When a chamber is the last of a' group the ports in its rear end wall (constituting the front end wall of the next chamber) are closed by any convenient means, as explained hereinafter, and the gas passage 14 is connected to the adjacent waste-gas flue 21, Figs. 1 and 2, by means of connector or elephant 22, extending from an adjacent opening in. the flue to one 'of the openings 15in the gaspassage.

In front. and rear of each opening 15 are peep-holes 23, Fig. 3, provided with removable covers24, to permit convenient inspec tion of the passages or channels in the side walls and partitions.

"The down-fines 25 in the longitudinal partitions 10, 'are provided with one or more baflies,as 26, Fig. 3, and at the bottom are provided with lateral ports 27 leading into the longitudinal floor-channels 28, Figs. 3 and 1, under the compartments in which the carbons are placed for baking. These floor channels or fiues are closed at the front end but open at'the rear into the up-fiues 29, .Fig. 3, in the adjacent end wall.

To make the best use of the space available and to afford the most rapid conduction of heat the carbons are packed as-close together as possible and in contact with the bottom, sides and ends of the compartments. As the loading of a compartment progresses the-interstices between the carbons are filled" with carbon dust, and when a chamber is full it may be covered in any convenient way to minimize the escape of heat. For this purpose bricks or clay slabs may be laid over the top and the" whole covered with earth.

A Waste-gas flue, such as 21, Figs. 1 and 2, is provided at each side of the furnace, and the two fiues are preferably connected across one end, at least, of the furnace. Natural draft can be used to cause the air and products of combustion to flow through the various passages or channels, or fans, not shown, can be employed, or both, as desired. The fuel gas main 18 extends longitudinally of the furnace between the two rows of chambers, and is connected with a suitable source of gas, for example a producer, not shown. The rear end-wall of the last chamber of eachrow of chambers is not provided with burner-ports, but its fiues are connected in any suitable manner, not shown, to the up-fiues in the front endwall of the first chamber of the other row, so that the operation of the furnace can be carried across from one row to the other, as will be readily understood.

It will be observed that the gas from the transverse passages 14 is discharged into and is burned in the down-fiues in the longitudinal partitions and side walls, and that all the passages, channels and fiues are closed with respect to the cells or compartments in which the articles are being preheated, baked or. cooled. This is a highly important feature, especially when the articles being treated are made of carbon, since it eliminates the oxidation which would follow if the air,- or products of combustion containing any uncombined oxygen, were allowed to come in contact with the heated carbon. Another important feature is the division of the chambers into cells by means of longitudinal partitions with individual burners, as it provides a better distribution of heat among the articles in the chamber, thus attaining more uniformresults in baking. The area of the burner-ports and airports can be regulated individually by proper proportioning and positioning of the tiles of brick 16, 17, Figs. 3 and 5, to insure uniform distribution of the air and gas. These tiles are simply laid on the blocks of shelves 30, 31, Fig. 5, and when the ports are to beclosed they are removed through the opening 15 above. The vertical tile or slab 33, Fig. 6, is then inserted to close the opening into the associated channel or flue 25 when the products of combustion are to be diverted to the waste gas flue. It is also possible in this way to cut out any one or more of the compartments at will, as may be necessary or desirable in case of 1n ury to the side walls or partitions. The connectors 19, between the gas manifold 18 and the gas passages 14:, may also be provided with Valves, as indicated diagrammatically at 32, Fig. l. i

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction herein specifically illustrated and described,

as these can be varied within wide limitswill; said burner-ports opening directly into the fiues in the side walls and partitions in the direction of the flow of air and gas through the furnace.

2. In a furnace of the kind described comprising a longitudinal series of chambers having hollow walls for the flow of air or products of-combustion through the same in'succ'ession, a chamber having a front endwall provided Wit-h vertical air fiues and a horizontal series of burner-ports; side-walls having fiues communicating with fiues in the front end-wall to receive air or products of combustion therefrom; one or more vertical longitudinal partitions dividing the chamberfinto cells or compartments for articles to-be treated and having fiues communicating with fiues in the front end-wall to receive air or products of combustion therefrom, the burner-ports of said series opening toward the rear directly into the respective fiues in the side-walls and parti-. tions; and a rear end-wall having vertical fiues communicating with the fiues in the side-walls and partitions to receive air or products of combustion therefrom, and having a horizontal series of burner-ports opening toward the rear of the Wall.

3. In a furnace of the kind described comprising a longitudinal series of chambers having hollow Walls for the flow of air or products ofcombustion through the same in succession, a chamber having a front end-Wall provided with vertical fines and a transverse gas-passage; side-Walls having fiues communicating with fiues in the front end-wall to receive air or products of combustion therefrom; one or more vertical longitudinal partitions dividingthe chamber into cells or compartments for articles to be treated and having fisues communicating with fiues in the said front end-Wall to receive air or products of combustion therefrom,'the said transverse gas passage having burner-ports opening toward the rear directly into the respective flues in the side-walls and longitudinal partitions; a hollow floor or bottom communicating with the flues in the side-walls and partitions to receive air or products of combustion therefrom; and a rear end-wall having vertical flues communicating with the.

hollow floor to receive air or products of combustion therefrom, and having a transverse gas passage provided with burnerports opening toward the rear.

4. In a'f-urnace of the kind descriibed comprising a longitudinal series of chambers having hollow walls for the flow of air or products of combustion through the same in succession, a chamber having one or more hollow vertical partitions extending longitudinally and dividing thechamber into cells or compartments for the articles to be treated; hollow side-walls; afront end-wall having vertical flues provided with ports at the top openin into the respective hollow partitions an side-walls to deliver air or products of combustion thereto, and having a horizontal gas passage above the vertical, flues, provided with burner-ports opening into the respective hollow sidewalls and partitions;. and a rear end-wall having vertical flues communicating at the bottom with the respective hollow side.

walls and partitions, andhaving a horizontal gas passage provided with burner-ports opening toward the rear of the wall.

5. In 'a furnace of the kind described comprising a longitudinal series of cham- '--bers having hollow walls for the flow of air or products ofcombustion through the same in succession, a chamber having oneforwardly, and havin a horizontal gas passage provided with urner-ports opening into the flues in the respective side-walls and partitions; a hollow floor or bottom communicating with the flues in the side- 'walls and partitions to receive airor prod ucts of combustion therefrom; and a rear end-wall having vertical flues open at the bottom to th hollow floor to receive air or products of combustion therefrom and at the top having openings toward-the rear, said rear end-wall havin at its top a horizontal gas passage provi ed with 1 burner-ports opening toward the rear;

6. In a furnace of the klnd described 1 comprising a longitudinalseries of cham-' bers having hollow walls for the flow of air or products of combustion throu hthe same in succession, a chamber having ollow sidewalls and one or more hollowllongltud nal partitions; a front end-wallhaving vertical flues open at the bottom toward the front and at the top having ports opening rearwardly into the hollow sidewalls and partitions, said end-wall having above the vertical flues a horizontal gas passage provided with burner-ports openlng toward the rear directly into the respective hollow sidewalls and partitions; and a hollow rear endwall having openings at its 'bottom communicating with the hollow sidewalls and partitions.

7. In a comprising a longitudinal series of chambers havin'g hollow walls forthe flow of air or products of combustion through the same in succession, a chamber havin longitudinally extending hollow walls, a ollow endwall having air-ports openin into the hollow longitudinal walls and aving aborizontal series of burner-ports opening intothe hollow longitudinal walls adjacent to the aforesaid air-ports, and means adjustable from outside for varying the size of the burner-ports. l

8. In a furnace of the kind described c'om-. rising a longitudinal series of chambers.

iaving hollow walls for the flow of" air or products of combustion through the same in succession, a chamber having hollow sidewalls; hollow partitions extending longituor compartments for the articles to be treated; and an end-wall having a horizontal flue provided with air-ports opening into the hollow sidewalls and partitions, vertical flues between the side-walls and partitions furnace the kind described I dinally and dividing the chamber into cells ports opening into the hollow side-walls and partitions above the aforesaid air-ports. 9. In a furnace of the kind described com- .prising alongitudinal series of chambers having hollow walls for the flow of air or. products of combustion through the same in- 811008881011, a chamber having hollow sidethe air-ports and burner-ports individually,

operable through :the said 0 enings in the gas passage; and removable c osures for said openings.

10. In a furnace of the kind" described comprising a longitudinal series of cham-' bers havinghollow walls for the-flow'of air. or products of combustionthrough the sam in succession, a chamber having two or more hollow longitudinal walls; and an end-wall having flues provided with air-ports opening into the hollow longitudinal walls, a horizontal gas passage having burner-ports adjacent to the said air-ports and opening into or products of combustion through the same in succession, a transverse end-Wall having vertical fiues and a horlzontal gas passage,

and hollow longitudinal walls extending in both directions from the end wall; the hollow longitudinal walls on one side of the end-Wall communicating with the gas passage and with the vertical lines at the top of the latter and the hollow longitudinal walls on the other side of the end-wall communica'ting with the vertical -flues at the bottom of the latter, and having peep-holes opening into the interior of the longitudinal walls adjacent to the horizontal gas passage in the end-wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

VICTOR C. DO'ERSGHUK. 

